Editors' Picks: Blockbuster Sunday in England and Madrid derby headline weekend

[p]Here's what our news editors have circled in their calendars this weekend:[/p][h2]Saturday, March 21st[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/alcaraz-garfia-c-UkhgIFEq/fonseca-j-tv073LUc/?mid=bH0iVlPc"]Carlos Alcaraz vs Joao Fonseca - 00:30 CET[/a][/b][/p][p]It may just be the second round, but a blockbuster match is already on the cards at the Miami Open, as world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a] takes on 19-year-old rising superstar [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Joao Fonseca[/a] just as the clocks turn to Saturday.[/p][p]For the first time in a while, it feels like there are some players ready to try and break the dominant duopoly of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. After giving the latter a real scare in two tight sets at Indian Wells last week, Fonseca will be hoping to go toe-to-toe with Alcaraz, too, proving that he can jostle with the best on a regular basis.[/p][p]However, after losing in the semi-finals to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells and falling in the second round of Miami to David Goffin last year, the Australian Open champion will be desperate to avoid another upset and get back to winning ways after his 16-match unbeaten streak to start the season came to an end.[/p][embed guid="3876e2fe-3140-491e-9af0-7ae7ac604d32" url="https://x.com/MiamiOpen/status/2034834819885006940" social-type="twitter" /][p]What makes this contest even more enthralling is the fact that Miami has a huge Latin-American identity. Brazilians already swarm to follow Fonseca around the globe, creating a manic atmosphere whichever court he sets foot on, and that is likely to be amplified in Miami against the world’s best player.[/p][p]Both players are absolutely box office, with two of the most thunderous forehands in the game. The atmosphere could be like a football match, and these two born entertainers are sure to produce an encounter that you won’t want to miss.[/p][p][i][b]Tolga Akdeniz[/b][/i][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.com/cycling/races/milano-sanremo/"][b]Milano-Sanremo - 10:10 CET[/b][/a][/p][p]Is there a better hour of racing in cycling than the final 50 kilometres of La Primavera - Milano-Sanremo?[/p][p]The longest race of the year and the first monument of the season takes place this Saturday. This near 300-kilometre run across the Ligurian coast is a mostly flat route, but the two small, late climbs of the Cipressa and the Poggio always provide fireworks.[/p][p]One of the beauties of this race is that practically any style of rider can win. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pogacar-tadej/IeUEUzYg/"]Tadej Pogacar[/a], the reigning Tour de France champion, will line up looking to win Sanremo for the first time, whilst Classics supremos, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-der-poel-mathieu/zNoVnJhi/"]Mathieu van der Poel[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-aert-wout/0Cs9HDB7/"]Wout van Aert[/a], will hope to hold the Slovenian on the climbs.[/p][p]Meanwhile, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/philipsen-jasper/WG3LGH3f/"]Jasper Philipsen[/a], the 2024 champion, will be hoping for a sprint finish to utilise his strengths.[/p][p]Last year, Van der Poel was triumphant, winning the 115th edition in a three-up sprint against Pogacar and home favourite [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ganna-filippo/vafM6Rf3/"]Filippo Ganna[/a]. Expect a select group to top the Poggio and fight out for the win again, but its makeup could be as tantalising as ever.[/p][embed guid="604a3bcb-acec-4693-ba84-91868229ad35" url="https://x.com/Milano_Sanremo/status/1903475457464414490" social-type="twitter" /][p]The women's race returns for the second time, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wiebes-lorena/CIVAwGJ2/"]Lorena Wiebes[/a] will be looking to go back-to-back. The Dutch sprinter is unlikely to get as much of a free ride as she did last year, and attacks are likely to go on the Poggio to weaken her legs.[/p][p]Watch out for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/niewiadoma-kasia/fk71jHaj/"]Kasia Niewiadoma[/a]. The former Tour de France Femmes champion will not want a bunch sprint, so expect her to attack early and break up the race as much as she can. The Polish national champion is a fighter, so if more than one attack is needed, don't be surprised when she goes again.[/p][p][i][b]Josh Donaldson[/b][/i][/p][h2]Sunday, March 22nd[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/england/premier-league/"]Super Sunday in England - from 13:00 CET[/a][/b][/p][p]It’s an absolutely massive day of football in England on Sunday, with three crunch matches running one after the other from early afternoon all the way until 19:30 CET![/p][p]Whether you’re in the mood for a fierce local derby, a relegation six-pointer or a heavyweight cup final, every base is covered thanks to a bumper schedule throughout the day.[/p][p]First up, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a] host [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a] in a hotly-anticipated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/newcastle-p6ahwuwJ/sunderland-WSzc94ws/?mid=fBXzEJVp"]Tyne-Wear derby[/a], as the Magpies look to end a dismal 10-game winless run in league head-to-heads. Just two points separate the pair ahead of the match, so it promises to be a feisty one![/p][image alt="Recent meetings (all competitions)" id="04a81971-1938-4cf4-8a46-6baf87f65732" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e65a9357-ebfc-4c29-ae42-4e2347b7a0d5" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Following that clash, Igor Tudor’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a] welcome fellow strugglers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Nottingham Forest[/a] to North London in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/nottingham-UsushcZr/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/?mid=n5KMyNNi"]crucial game[/a] at the bottom of the Premier League.[/p][p]Despite a spirited draw at Liverpool last time out, Spurs remain the only team in the league yet to pick up a win in 2026. As for Forest, they’re also on a worrying seven-match winless run in the top flight (D4, L3), underlining the magnitude of Sunday’s fixture.[/p][p]Finally, at 17:30 CET, attention shifts to a blockbuster [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=rJ3qBSJD"]EFL Cup final[/a] at Wembley, where quadruple-chasing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] take on a wounded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a].[/p][embed guid="d3640f76-0541-471b-99ce-9df52a84c51a" url="https://x.com/Carabao_Cup/status/2019342565775118459" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Gunners, looking to secure their first piece of major silverware since 2020, head into the contest full of confidence, unbeaten in 14 competitive matches (W11, D3). City’s season, on the other hand, is threatening to fizzle out after back-to-back league draws and a damaging Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.[/p][p]Both Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola will be desperate to clinch the first domestic trophy of the season, so buckle up and enjoy the action![/p][p][i][b]Danny Clark[/b][/i][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=tQIsOmIc"]Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid - 21:00 CET[/a][/b][/p][p]We have one heck of a match to close out the weekend as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] host their city rivals [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atleti[/a] in a massive LaLiga derby on Sunday evening.[/p][p]In terms of the title race, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] play earlier in the day on Sunday at home against Rayo Vallecano, so Real could be as many as seven points adrift by kick-off in Madrid or looking to trim Barca’s lead down should they drop points. Either way, they are all huge matches now for [i]Los Blancos[/i], and the derby aspect of this clash only adds levels of narrative and pressure.[/p][p]Diego Simeone’s side are pretty much out of the race for the title, for their part. What's more, 11 points separate Villarreal in fourth from Betis in fifth as it stands, meaning Champions League football feels pretty much assured for Los Colchoneros already.[/p][p]Don’t let that fool you into thinking that Atleti have nothing to play for, though. If there’s one side that loves to step up for a derby, it’s Simeone’s.[/p][image alt="Recent meetings between the sides" id="1d37813e-6825-499d-92e7-5d76b9092b49" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="28ccb71f-af45-427a-bc96-342105816b1e" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]The last time these two met in the league, back in September, Atleti ran out 5-2 winners in a crazy game. Real then got revenge in the Super Cup semi-finals in January. Last season, Real edged through a tight Champions League tie on penalties between the two, while the league saw two draws in this fixture.[/p][p]In terms of immediate form, both clubs are coming off progressions in Europe, with Real particularly buoyed by their win over Manchester City and the return to action of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a] in midweek.[/p][p]It’s going to be close, it’s going to be high-quality, and it’s going to have ramifications! In short, must-watch viewing to end the weekend.[/p][p][i][b]Pat Dempsey[/b][/i][/p]